Serena Williams withdraws from Pan Pacific Open

TOKYO (AP) — Serena Williams has pulled out of the Pan Pacific Open to recover from a busy summer playing schedule.

The top-ranked Williams, who won her 17th Grand Slam singles title at the U.S. Open, said Thursday in a press release, "unfortunately with the number of matches I have played throughout the summer, I need more time to properly recover."

Williams said she expects to play in the Sept. 28-Oct. 6 China Open in Beijing.

World No. 3 Maria Sharapova has also pulled out of the Pan Pacific Open because of a right shoulder injury that kept her out of the U.S. Open.